Lee jobless rate 11.5 percent

September 24, 2011

An estimated 11.5 percent of Lee County's workforce was unemployed in August, a year-over-year figure that decreased from 13.3 percent.

The decrease is an indication of not only job growth but sustained job growth, according to Barbara Hartman from Southwest Florida Works, who added that the county's payroll statistics have also shown an increase.

"It's an indication we're gradually coming out of the downturn," she said. "If we don't have any further jolts to our economy we should continue to come out of it."

Several companies are planning on hosting job fairs at Southwest Florida Works, another indication that Lee County is bouncing back, Hartman said.

Charlotte County posted an unemployment rate of 11.3 percent in August, up slightly from 11.1 percent in July; Collier County stayed the same between July and August, posting an unemployment rate of 11.9 percent; Glades County dipped slightly in August to 9.2 percent from 9.7 percent in July; And Hendry County boasted the highest unemployment rate in Florida at 17.9 percent, down from 19 percent in July.

Florida's unemployment rate was 10.7 percent in August, down from 11.6 percent year over year.

Hartman said Lee's payroll report increased .2 percent, the first time it's done so in months.

It's another indication of the county turning around, expanding its permanent job base year-over-year by 300.

"It's good to see some growth and I think it will have a positive psychological impact on employers and job seekers," she said.